Lunar New Year is a time of joyous celebration marked by vibrant traditions, family gatherings, and symbolic foods.
Beans often play a significant role in Lunar New Year festivities, symbolizing prosperity, fertility, and good fortune.
Dishes such as sweet red bean soup or desserts made with red bean paste are commonly prepared to invoke blessings for the coming year. In some regions, black beans are included in meals as they are believed to bring strength and vitality. These humble ingredients, rich in symbolism, underscore the cultural emphasis on food as a means to convey hopes and wishes for abundance and happiness during this festive season.
Keep reading to dive into Chef Yi-Wen Lunar new year traditions and her delicious bean recipes!
“The pre-Lunar New Year dinner is one of the most important meals of the year to celebrate when families re-unite and wish for health & prosperity in the coming year.
My inspiration always comes from nature, so prior to designing the dishes, I would understand the seasonal harvests from local farmers but also keeping in mind the mix & match of balancing nutrition, colors, textures, tastes, and biodiverse ‘wholefood’ ingredients that boost our micronutrients plus enhance natural flavors.
Food plays a vital role in our daily lives, fueling our body, mind and spirit. Food is also an expression of love that brings joy and nourishment from inside to out as it is one of the key foundations to building good health so we need to respect and value those behind our food system, esp. our local ecological farmers, and all the other related resources that are involved in producing and transporting our precious three meals a day from land or sea to our table.”
Illustration by @yehyehyeh_agency
“This dinner should be fun and interactive so starting with the Yi Prosperity Toss Salad as an appetizer will set the New Year spirit, symbolizing abundance, prosperity, vigor and good luck.
It can also represent aiming for new heights. The next Yi Crispy Yuba Nori Rolls, is a gluten-free and high protein roll, designed to represent bars of gold for the coming year.
These couple dish ideas can nudge us towards taking collective actions in making a Planetary Health Diet shift without sacrificing on taste and flavors, during new beginnings.
It is also a time of reflections and setting new intentions so I hope these dishes can inspire more people in discovering more Plant Forward food choices that brings meaning to this meal, hoping to set the stage for all to start making more mindful food choices in year of the Snake.”
